The Passion of Berezina

On November the 12th of 1812, the Emperor Napoleon burned the flags of the lost regiments of his Army near Tolochin, a Belarusian town. His officers and men could not refrain from tears. On that day they could not have imagine the fate that was waiting for them.

Even today, historians are still disputing these events.

The Great Army of Napoleon suffered great losses but how did Napoleon not suffer defeat? How did he walk away from the Russian troops with his treasure? With so many golden coins and ingots with his personal monogram “N”! Perhaps it was the beginning of Waterloo?

The battle of the Berezina has given birth to many mysteries in Russia. Why did admiral Chichagov who eventually became the winner leave Russia? Why were the other Russian troops too late to help him? Why didn’t The Emperor Alexandr consider the battle of the Berezina to be the victory of the Russian troops?

Perhaps Dominik Radziwill, Lithuanian lord and faithful adjutant of Napoleon, could answer these questions. But with Radziwill’s death there are still many unanswered questions. Why was he with Napoleon until the end?

After two centuries the time to know the truth has come!

What was the battle of the Berezina for the Emperor Alexandr and for the Emperor Napoleon? For field Marshall Kutuzov and for Admiral Chichagov? For Lord Radziwill? For the soldiers and citizens of the small village Studenka where history was made?

We have only two clues – the hidden gold that people look for today and the price of vanity that still makes the world go round.